Nursing apparel

ABSTRACT

The present relates to nursing apparel. The nursing apparel comprises a mesh adapted for being installed on a woman. When installed, the mesh covers her breast and a portion of a nursing infant. The mesh is flexible, breathable and provides intimacy to the nursing woman when installed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to nursing, and more particularly to nursing apparel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Nursing is recognized by various health organizations as being the healthiest way to feed infants. However, nursing is not well accepted or tolerated in some countries.

The main concern raised against nursing in public is the exposure of a woman's breast while nursing. Some products have been designed to ensuring coverage of the breast while nursing. These products usually are made of a thick fabric to ensure privacy, and are bulky to carry. Because of the thickness of the fabric, the infant and nursing woman are uncomfortable: too warm, not breathable, the infant cannot see the light, etc. Furthermore, such products usually create an unsubtle cover making it obvious that a woman is nursing. These products are neither stylish nor elegant, and carrying them is not practical.

There is thus a need for nursing apparel that remedies these problems and helps acceptance of nursing in public.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present provides a simple and comfortable way to offer privacy to a nursing woman.

For doing so, the present provides nursing apparel. The nursing apparel comprises a mesh adapted for being installed on a woman. When installed, the mesh covers the woman's breast and a portion of a nursing infant. The mesh is flexible, breathable and provides intimacy to the nursing woman when installed.

In accordance with another aspect, the present nursing apparel further comprises a carrying case.

In accordance with yet another aspect, the carrying case is equipped with a carabiner for affixing the carrying case to an object.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following description, the following drawings are used to describe and exemplify the present nursing apparel:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present nursing apparel;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a sequence showing use of the nursing apparel;

FIG. 3 is a close-up representation of a portion of a mesh of the present nursing apparel;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of various ways to install the mesh; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a carrying case.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present relates to nursing, and more particularly to nursing apparel. Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which is a perspective view of the present nursing apparel 10. The nursing apparel 10 comprises a mesh 20. In a particular aspect, the nursing apparel further comprises a carrying case 20. When not in use, the mesh 20 may be stored and transported in the carrying case 30. For convenience purposes, the carrying case 30 may be equipped of a carabiner 40 for affixing the carrying case 30 to an object. For example, the carrying case may be affixed to a purse, a diaper bag, a stroller, an infant's car seat, a belt, a coat, a pant, or any other object in proximity of or carried by the mother or the infant.

Reference is now made concurrently to FIG. 2, which is a schematic representation of a sequence showing use of the nursing apparel 10. In this schematic representation, the carrying case 30 is affixed to a purse for exemplary purposes. The mesh 20 is retrieved from the carrying case 30, and then installed on the woman so as to cover her breast and at least a portion of the infant. The mesh 20 may be installed in various ways, of which some examples will be depicted later. Then, if the mesh is equipped of a slit 50, which is an optional feature, the woman may insert her arm in the slit 50. The slit 50 provides additional options for wearing and installing the mesh 20. The mesh 20 covers the woman's breast and a portion of the nursing infant. Then, when the infant has finished nursing, the mesh 20 may be removed and stored back in the carrying case 30.

Turning now to FIG. 3, there is represented a close-up view of a portion of a mesh 20. The mesh is a structure of connected strands with openings there between. The strands may be made of various materials such as for example organic, synthetic, or a combination thereof. The openings between the connected strands allow air and light to seep there through. The openings between the connected strands may have various sizes, however, to ensure privacy, the openings are relatively small. The mesh 20 is preferably lightweight and thin so as to allow compact carrying. Furthermore, the mesh is breathable and washable. It could also be advantageous that the mesh has some elastic properties, so as to reduce tear and provide greater options when installed on the woman. For hygiene purposes, it may be desired that the mesh 20 be of strands that do not absorb humidity, and repel liquids such as milk, saliva, etc.

The mesh 20 may be of various shapes and sizes, for example a rectangle, a square, a circle, an oval, or a polygon. The mesh 20 may further consist of a partial or complete superposition of two meshes completely or partially affixed together. To keep the mesh light and compact while providing greater privacy, one larger mesh and a smaller mesh may be superposed and affixed so that when installed on the woman, the superposed meshes cover her breast and a portion of the infant.

To add style, the mesh may be of various colors. The superposed meshes may be of different colors, so as to allow fashionable and colorful arrangements, as shown on FIG. 4 concurrently referred to. The mesh 20 may be installed various ways on the woman. For example, the mesh 20 may be wrapped around an upper torso, around the shoulders folded, around the shoulders unfolded, passed around the neck as an altar top, installed over one shoulder, etc.

Because of its lightweight and flexibility, the mesh 20 can be worn like any other fashion item, while providing privacy and comfort to the nursing woman and her infant. When installed, the mesh 20 scatters the light that seeps there through, so as to provide light to the nursing infant while providing privacy to the nursing woman. The mesh 20 further allows air to seep there through, thus preventing overheating the nursing infant. Contrarily to other prior art solutions, the present nursing apparel provides a simple and subtle solution for nursing in public.

Reference is now made to FIG. 5, which depicts an exemplary carrying case 30. The carrying case 30 may have different shapes and sizes. For exemplary purposes, the carrying case 30 is depicted as a ball sized to fit in a hand. The carrying case 30 may be equipped with the carabiner 40 or any other affixing device for allowing simple affixing to an object (not shown). The carabiner 40 may be made of various materials, shapes and proportions. The carrying case is adapted for carrying the mesh 20.

The carrying case 30 may be made of any suitable material, such as for example plastic. To provide durability, the carrying case 30 may be made of a material that resists substantially well to abrasion, oils and solvents, is printable and recyclable. To facilitate easy removal of and storage of the mesh, the carrying case 30 may be equipped with an opening 60. The opening 60 may be any suitable shape, as for example X-shaped, star-shaped, round, oval, hexagon, polygon, etc.

The present nursing apparel has been described by way of preferred embodiments. It should be clear to those skilled in the art that the described preferred embodiments are for exemplary purposes only, and should not be interpreted to limit the scope of the present nursing apparel. The nursing apparel as described in the description of preferred embodiments can be modified without departing from the scope of the present claims. 

1. A nursing apparel comprising: a mesh adapted for being installed on a woman so as to cover her breast and a portion of a nursing infant, the mesh being flexible, breathable and providing intimacy to the nursing woman when installed.
 2. The nursing apparel of claim 1, wherein the mesh is a structure with evenly spaced openings for allowing air and light to seep there through.
 3. The nursing apparel of claim 1, wherein the mesh is lightweight.
 4. The nursing apparel of claim 1, wherein the mesh has one of the following shapes: a rectangle, a square, a circle, an oval, or a polygon.
 5. The nursing apparel of claim 4, wherein the mesh further comprises at least one slit for allowing insertion of an arm of the woman when installed.
 6. The nursing apparel of claim 1, further comprising another mesh superposed to the mesh and partially affixed thereto.
 7. The nursing apparel of claim 1, further comprising another mesh superposed to the mesh and completely affixed thereto.
 8. The nursing apparel of claim 6, wherein the mesh is of a first color and the another mesh is of a different color.
 9. The nursing apparel of claim 1, further comprising a carrying case for carrying the mesh.
 10. The nursing apparel of claim 9, wherein the carrying case is equipped of a carabiner for affixing the carrying case to an object.
 11. The nursing apparel of claim 9, wherein the carrying case is a ball.
 12. The nursing apparel of claim 11, wherein the ball has an X-shaped opening allowing retrieval and storage of the mesh therein. 